Latest news with #Máire
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Learn Irish the way you want to: 3 of the best Gaeilge Tiktokers
Learning Irish on Tiktok has proven itself to be more than just a viral moment and has evolved and grown into a national and international pastime. Its growth has allowed for more niche content within the learning Irish sphere to blossom too. If you're learning Irish for the first time, your journey to fluency may not be the same as a person who has been learning Irish in the education system. Similarly, a person who has attended a Gaelscoil is not looking for the same content as a person who wants to know what the latest Kneecap lyrics mean. Thankfully, Tiktok is awash with creators who know who their audience are and what they want from their content. We spoke to some of our favourite creators about why they have started sharing their Irish and who they think their audiences are. Máire Ní Churraoin (@máire_na_gréine) Máire is from the Meath Gaeltacht of Rath Cháirn (if you don't know, get to know) and embodies the Gaeltacht in much of what she shares from sean nós singing with her sister Etáin in the group An Chéad Ghlúin Eile to sharing some of her favourite words in Irish and how the language shapes her world. Deir Máire go bhfuil sí i mbun na hoibre seo le 'bród a mhúscailt i ndaoine as an nGaeilge chun cainte nó chun foghlama'. You never know what you'll get with Máire's account from makeup tutorials to tattoo recommendations and of course, ceol álainn. Máire's personality and joie de vivre is infectious. James Donegal Irish (@ James Gillespie does a wonderful job at sharing words/ phrases and idioms in Donegal Irish which you may not know if you've learned a standardised version of the language, like many of us did in the classroom. James says his audience is varied, from those who are returning to the language and those who are learning for the first time. James' content illustrates the vast differences there are in Irish spoken in different parts of the country. He's a great follow if you're interested in dialects. "D'fhoghlaim mé mórán focla ó mo mhuintir fhéin agus thug mé fá dear nach raibh cuid dena focla sin in áiteacha eile, seo an Ghaeilge a d'fhoghlaim mé ó m'athair. Bheadh focla difriúla againn i gcomparáid lena gaeltachtaí eile i nDún na nGall mar shampla. Bhí mé ag iarraidh na focla seo a thaispeáin do dhaoine, blas a thabhairt daofa ar an Ghaeilge atá againn. Focla b'fhéidir nach mbeadh ar fáil san Fhoclóir." Scaoil Amach an Pocaide (@ pocaide) Shane has guided us through phonetics and introduced us to new idioms and words lots of us weren't aware of. Shane is undertaking a PhD on the Irish spoken ar na hoileáin Árann, ag díriú ar an bhfoghraíocht agus ar an gcanúint sin. Roinneann sé an saibhreas sin go fial lena chuid leantóirí. Ag caint linn faoina chuid oibre ar líne, dúirt sé go raibh sé den tuairim go raibh daoine á leanúint ar mhaithe le spraoi chomh maith le foghlaim. "Tá mé ag ceapadh go bhfuil go leor daoine do mo leanúint ar mhaithe le frása nó leagan cainte beag a fhoghlaim is a úsáid, agus b'fhéidir le rud eicínt spraíúil a rá freisin, tá craic agus spraoi ag baint leis an teanga i ngan fhios do go leor daoine agus nuair a chloiseann siad rud eicínt barrúil cuireann sé fonn orthu an teanga a labhairt sílim. Is mór an feall i ndáiríre nach bhfuil an ghné sin den teanga á cur cinn sna scoileanna, ach b'fhéidir go n-athródh sé sin fós"
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish language use up 600pc on TikTok as Dubai chocolate and matcha dominate users' algorithms
TikTok HQ opened their doors to reveal emerging creators and trending content across Ireland and beyond. From #gaeltok and Irish tourism content to green food and drink trends – even if it is a Coca-Cola recipe with pickle and jalapeno juice – the app with 186 million downloads at the end of last year never fails to surprise its audience. First up for favoured trends this year is #Gaeltok which Rebecca O'Keeffe, Head of Content Operations at TikTok, describes as a 'catch-all phrase for everything that's happening within Irish culture in the app, from Irish food, Irish history, to the ever-growing popularity of the Irish language.' A creator Ms O'Keeffe recommends us to watch out for is Máire Na Greine, @maire-na-greine, who creates lifestyle content through Irish. Ms O'Keeffe said: 'What I love about Máire is she's not trying to teach you Irish. Instead it's conversational and very approachable.' We've all heard CMAT's new song [Take a Sexy Picture of Me] which is a big trending sound on the platform at the moment The use of TikTok through Irish was up 600pc in the last 12 months on the app. Irish-speaking creatives like Máire are given much kudos by the Tiktok team for this growth. Ms O'Keeffe also delved into music on the app which relies on catchy sound bites to boost views. She said: 'There are incredible artists coming out of Ireland at the moment. We've all heard CMAT's new song [Take a Sexy Picture of Me] which is a big trending sound on the platform at the moment.' CMAT or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician, known for creating country, pop and folk music. Her latest song rallies against modern beauty standards with nearly 6,000 videos on the app made using the song. Some smaller musicians also flagged as ones to watch included Khakiid @khakid who has 51,000 followers on the app, Moio @sirmoio has 164,300 followers and @florenceroad who has 902,000 followers. All things green food and drinks are also trending, from Dubai chocolate to matcha lattes and even pickles, thanks to singer Dua Lipa encouraging people to drink Coke with pickle and jalapeno juice. ADVERTISEMENT David Burke, co-owner of Sugar Plum Sweetery, the sweet makers and chocolatiers based in Mullingar whose business was launched into the stratosphere following the Dubai chocolate trend taking Ireland by storm. He said: 'Our business wouldn't exist without TikTok and the Dubai chocolate trend. Our business is now 10 times the size of what it was, and we've 70 people working for us.' Sugar Plum is part of the TikTok shop which has now been brought to Ireland. The Matcha Bar, based in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin city, is another Irish seller on the app. Elaine Fitzsimons, who opened the business 10 months ago, used the platform to take viewers through the experience of setting up a business. She said: 'You're competing against massive competitors and brands that have a lot of money to push behind marketing, and when you're starting up, you don't have that. 'So your story and your brand and your face is like, is your differentiator to cut through the noise. 'I also really enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes content myself. It's important not to take yourself too seriously.'
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish language use up 600pc on TikTok as Dubai chocolate and matcha dominate user's algorithm
TikTok HQ opened their doors to reveal emerging creators and trending content across Ireland and beyond. From #gaeltok and Irish tourism content to green food and drink trends - even if it is a Coca-Cola recipe with pickle and jalapeno juice - the app with 186 million downloads at the end of last year never fails to surprise its audience. First up for favoured trends this year is #Gaeltok which Rebecca O'Keefe Head of Content Operations at TikTok describes as a 'catch-all phrase for everything that's happening within Irish culture in the app, from Irish food, Irish history, to the ever-growing popularity of the Irish language'. Creator Rebecca recommends us to watch out for is Máire Na Greine, @maire-na-greine, who creates lifestyle content through Irish. Ms O'Keefe said: 'What I love about Máire is she's not trying to teach you Irish. Instead it's conversational and very approachable.' The use of TikTok through Irish was up 600pc in the last 12 months on the app. Irish-speaking creatives like Máire are given much kudos by the Tiktok team for this growth. Rebecca also delved into music on the app, which is an important area for the platform which relies on catchy sound bites to boost views. She said: 'There are incredible artists coming out of Ireland at the moment. We've all heard CMAT's new song ['Take a Sexy Picture of Me'] which is a big trending sounding platform at the moment.' CMAT or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician, known for creating country, pop and folk music. Her latest song rallies against modern beauty standards with nearly 6,000 videos on the app made using the song. Some smaller musicians also flagged as ones to watch included Khakiid @khakid who has 51,000 followers on the app, Moio @moio followers and @florenceroad who has 902,000 followers. ADVERTISEMENT All things green food and drinks are also trending at the moment from Dubai chocolate to matcha lattes and even pickles thanks to singer Dua Lipa encouraging people to drink Coke with pickle and jalapeno juice. David Burke co-owner of Sugar Plum, the sweet makers and chocolatiers based in Mullingar whose business was launched into the stratosphere following the Dubai chocolate trend taking the country by storm. He said: 'Our business wouldn't exist without TikTok and the Dubai chocolate trend. Our business is now 10 times the size of what it was, and we've 70 people working for us.' Sugar Plum is part of the TikTok shop which has now been brought to Ireland. The Matcha Bar, based in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin city, is another Irish seller on the app. Elaine Fitzsimons, who opened her business 10 months ago, used the platform to launch her business, taking viewers through the experience of setting up a business. She said: 'You're competing against massive competitors and brands that have a lot of money to push behind marketing, and when you're starting up, you don't have that. So your story and your brand and your face is like, is your differentiator to cut through the noise.' 'I also really enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes content myself. It's important not to take yourself too seriously.'
